Leadership and productivity : a case study of New Age Beverages.

Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.Employee engagement and engaging leadership are subjects receiving attention from organisations. The link between employee morale, motivation and business productivity is important as well managed organisations can derive benefit from such linkages. The aim of this study was to determine whether the engagement models, leadership practices and tools utilised by New Age Beverages (NAB) had impacted positively on the morale and motivation of NAB employees. The study also considered whether there was a positive correlation between morale and motivation of employees in relation to overall business productivity. A probability sample of 50 employees and managers were drawn from a population of 120 employees. The sample frame was drawn from the NAB employee database. A questionnaire which was comprised of 25 quantitative and 5 qualitative questions was used to elicit information from management and employees at NAB. Data mining was conducted to determine trends with regards to quantitative data over the past 3 years relating to Human Resource Key Performance Indicators. The evidence confirmed that engaging leadership has a positive impact on the morale and motivation of NAB staff. It also confirmed that employees perceived a positive correlation between leadership tools and practices such as integrated management practices and “on the level” conversations on the morale and motivation of staff at NAB. Data mining evidence confirmed that integrated management practices resulted in compliance and quality levels increasing to 100% in year 3, machine efficiency and cases produced increased from 78% to 89% and 77% to 91% respectively, proving a positive correlation between employee morale, motivation and business productivity. Key recommendations being for NAB to focus on lower scoring areas, such as trust levels between leadership and management on one hand and employee development on the other, in order to gain further benefits from their programmes. It is suggested that a qualitative study be undertaken